Why should Slovaks support a stronger EU?

Demonising the European Union as a collection of out-of-touch elite bureaucrats has been a favourite political pastime for years. Anytime something went wrong, European political leaders — and not only populists — would blame those nameless, faceless people in Brussels instead. Whatever it takes to win the next national or local election.

But there is no clearer case for empowering the EU than what is happening now regarding migration — for a small country like Slovakia especially.

For the third consecutive week, major discussions regarding the future of asylum, migration and the Schengen border free travel zone were underway. Decisions are being made and, once again, Slovakia is not even in the room. Angela Merkel met with Viktor Orbán, Bavarian Horst Seehofer (the German interior minister) met with Austrian premier Sebastian Kurz. These are Slovakia’s neighbours negotiating policies that will affect Slovakia’s borders without anyone from Bratislava taking part. Next week, the Italians — not the Czechs or Slovaks — will join in.

This translates into Bavarians and Austrians deciding the future political direction of the entire European Union.